(RED BANK – NOV 1) The Basie Awards will mark 20 years of celebrating excellence in Monmouth County high school theatre on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at the Count Basie Center’s Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre, 99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank.

“When we started the Basie Awards in 2005, our hope was that a community of high school actors, tech crews, administrators and theater advisors could gather, recognize and celebrate the productions they work so hard to create on their schools’ stages,” said Adam Philipson, President / CEO, Count Basie Center for the Arts. “Now, with an annual sold-out ceremony and one of the loudest and most special nights of the year, we can say that Monmouth County’s high school theatre community is vibrant, diverse and cohesive as ever.”

In celebration of the 20^th anniversary, this year’s ceremony will feature students, teachers and school programs honored over the years, while celebrating the impact of the arts in the community.

Tickets for the 20^th annual Basie Awards will go on sale May 7, 2025 at 10am, following the revelation of a complete list of official nominees on April 30^th.

Fall Productions Under Consideration

In the meantime, the Basie Center has revealed student productions are set for evaluation this fall:

Christian Brothers Academy – CLUE
Collier School – Radium Girls
Colts Neck High School – Suite Surrender
Communications High School – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Freehold High School – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of the Barbaray Coast
Freehold Township High School – Puffs
Henry Hudson High School – Urinetown
High Technology High School – Almost, Maine
Holmdel High School – Romeo and Juliet
Howell High School – Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark
Manalapan High School – Radium Girls
Manasquan High School – A Night of Student Written and Directed One Acts
Matawan Regional High School – Leading Ladies
Middletown High School North – Little Women
Middletown High School South:  – Radium Girls
Monmouth Regional High School – Alice In Wonderland
Neptune High School – The Great Gatsby
Ocean Township High School – Machinal
Ranney School – Much Ado About Nothing
Raritan High School – Midsummer/Jersey
Red Bank Catholic High School – The Real Inspector Hound
Red Bank Regional High School – Murder On the Orient Express
Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School – Nutcracker the Musical
St. John Vianney High School – These Shining Lives
Trinity Hall – Little Women

A reveal of contending spring productions will be released in the new year.

“The talent in Monmouth County high school theatre seems to get better with each passing year,” said Samantha Giustiniani, Vice President, Education, Count Basie Center for the Arts. “With 25 productions set for review this fall, we’re well on our way to making the 20^th annual Basie Awards celebration one for the record books.”

Every year, the Basie Awards program invites all Monmouth County high schools to submit their musical and drama productions for consideration. Adjudicators are sent to each presentation and assess scores in categories ranging from acting, directing and choreography, to technical categories such as set and costume design and lighting.

As is tradition, an annual Lifetime Achievement Award is also bestowed upon a figure central to the preservation and celebration of arts in the community. This year’s recipient, as well as this year’s official nominees, will be announced on April 30.

For more information on the 20^th annual Basie Awards, visit www.thebasie.org/basieawards